Life Coach Hueina Su Invited to Launch Mindful Wellness Coaching Program for Cancer Patients and Caregivers
Certified life coach, best-selling author and founder of Denville, NJ-based Beyond Horizon Coaching Hueina Su is invited to launch a stress management coaching and training program at Sparta Cancer Center.
DENVILLE, NJ – June 28, 2010 – Coping with cancer is perhaps one of the most stressful events by most people’s standard. Besides enduring the physical symptoms and cancer treatments, cancer patients have to deal with fears, anxiety, grief and many emotional issues.
“Cancer patients and caregivers are very prone to stress and overwhelm. Research has shown that stress lowers immune function and interferes with body’s ability to heal. So learning how to deal with stress effectively will help accelerate cancer patients’ recovery and improve their quality of life. Many studies published in peer review journals found that stress reduction and coaching improve cancer patients’ survival rate,” says Hueina Su, MS, BSN, CEC, a certified life coach, stress management expert and founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching in Denville, New Jersey.
Su is invited to launch her Mindful Wellness Coaching Program for cancer patients and caregivers at Sparta Cancer Center in Sparta, New Jersey. “This is a new complementary support program aimed at helping cancer patients reduce stress, fears, anxiety, create more balance and inner peace, enhance cancer treatment effectiveness, and as a result, promote healing and recovery,” Su says.
Sparta Cancer Center is the first radiation oncology center in the Sussex County NJ to offer the most advanced radiation therapy. Under the leadership of Dr. Michael Gallagher, MD, MBA, FACRO, FACP, the center has a multidisciplinary team that offers complementary support programs in addition to radiation and chemotherapy. Su’s Mindful Wellness Coaching Program is the newest addition to their complementary programs.
The Mindful Wellness Program is an innovative multi-dimensional program to enhance care and quality of life for cancer patients, caregivers and staff. “Stress reduces body’s immune function and interferes with body’s natural ability to heal. Stress reduction coaching can lower patients’ risks of cancer recurrences, infection, complications and stress-related illnesses. It can promote healing and make medical treatment more effective,” Su says. “By giving cancer patients tools and techniques for stress relief, self-care and life skills, it gives them a sense of control, and help them become more resilient and confident in dealing with cancer and other life changes.”
In addition to one-on-one life coaching for cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers, Su will also conduct stress management training for the center’s medical and administrative staff. Caregivers and medical care staff are often neglected in the patient care process. Caring for others is among the most fulfilling activities one can engage in as a human. But for far too many, the line between caring and over-caring is crossed, leading to illness and burnout.
“I’m an advocate in intensive self-care. The well-being of cancer caregivers and patient care staff is just as important as that of cancer patients. Having worked with terminally ill cancer patients as a nurse, I experienced first-hand the high level of stress and its negative impact on health and well-being. This is why I wrote my best-selling book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others,” Su says.
“It’s my pleasure to work with Dr. Gallagher and his team,” says Su. “My program uses mind body interventions as well as life coaching to help cancer patients and caregivers to not only cope with cancer, but also thrive beyond survivorship. We launched the program early this month, and the response from patients, caregivers and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. My intention is to give them the tools and confidence to not just survive, but thrive after their cancer treatments. There is life beyond cancer, and I feel so privileged to be able to help them bridge that transition.”
About Hueina Su and Beyond Horizon Coaching
Hueina Su, MS, BSN, CEC, The Nurturer’s CoachTM, is a renowned expert in helping people restore the missing peace and balance in their stressful lives. Su is a professional keynote speaker, certified life coach, and the best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others. She is on a mission to bring the message of self-love and intensive self-care to make a difference in the lives of more than one million women nurturers.
Su is the founder and president of Beyond Horizon Coaching, a global coaching and training company, specializing in providing solutions for work-life balance, stress management, and Intensive Self-Care through personal coaching, executive coaching, teleseminars, keynote presentations, team-building training, and other wellness services. She is the creator of Rx for BalanceTM, The Coaching OasisTM, and Nurture and Grow RichTM programs.
To sign up for free stress management video e-course and learn more about Su’s coaching, keynote speaking, training services and products visit http://www.HueinaSu.com.
Hueina Su’s full bio and additional photos http://www.HueinaSu.com/media-room.
She is available for interviews and can provide a list of tips and other articles. Call 973-664-0446 (O) or 201-572-3641 (Cell) or email Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com.
# # #
Contact Information:
Hueina Su
Beyond Horizon Coaching
Phone: 973-664-0446 (O), 201-572-3641 (Cell)
Email: Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com

Dr. Michael Gallagher (left) Medical Director of Sparta Cancer Center and Hueina Su (right), Certified Life Coach and Founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching , attended Sparta Cancer Center's annual Celebration of Life luncheon, honoring cancer survivors and their caregivers.
About the Author:Hueina Su is an internationally recognized expert in helping people find the missing PEACE and POWER in their stressful lives. She co-stars with Jack Canfield and Marci Shimoff in the ground-breaking personal development movie The Keeper of the Keys (Dec.11). Hueina is a Mindful Wellness Expert, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, Founder & Master Coach of Beyond Horizon Coaching. What sets her apart from other experts is the 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and wisdom behind her. She started her first career as a RN, and has more than 23 years of experience in nursing, coaching, counseling, speaking, training, nonprofit management, sales, and small business. She is on a mission to empower one million women to nurture their true self, reclaim their Peaceful Power, and create a life of their CHOICE. For more information about Hueina’s speaking, coaching and products, visit www.HueinaSu.com ©Hueina Su You may reprint this article in your blog or e-zine as long as the author by-line and website information remain intact. |
Best-selling Author Hueina Su to Support Fundraising for Interfaith Council’s Mission to Fight Homeless and Poverty
Life coach and best-selling author Hueina Su will have book-signing to support Spring Fundraising Drive hosted by Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County on Friday June 11, 2010 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET.
DENVILLE, NJ – June 10, 2010 – Despite of being one of the most high-income counties in the nation, more residents in Morris County, New Jersey are struggling with staying in their homes.
Interfaith Council for Homless Families of Morris County was formed to help fight homeless and poverty. It’s is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit organization dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness faced by Morris County families by partnering with other public and private agencies, religious congregations and community volunteers to provide shelter, case management and mentoring services leading to self-sufficiency.
Interfaith Council is hosting it’s first Annual Spring Fling & Clothing Drive to raise fund to benefit homeless families in Morris County on Friday June 11 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The even will be held at Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown.
A local resident in Denville, the Nurturer’s Coach and best-selling author Hueina Su will help raise fund by signing her books for whoever buy the books at the event. The money will be donated to the Council.
Su is a keynote speaker, certified life coach and the author of the best-selling book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others.
“I’m a big believer in faith and law of attraction. This is some worthy cause that I can help the less fortunate people to get back on their feet,” says Su, president and founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching based in Denville, New Jersey.
“This is a great opportunity for me to feed back to community,” says Su. “I’m on a mission to bring the message of self-love and intensive self-care to make a difference in the lives of more than one million women nurturers.”
For more information about Su’s best-selling book and special bonus gifts, visit http://www.intensiveselfcarebook.com. This book is also available at Amazon.com.
About Hueina Su and Beyond Horizon Coaching
Hueina Su, MS, BSN, CEC, The Nurturer’s CoachTM, is a renowned expert in helping people restore the missing peace and balance in their stressful lives. Su is a professional keynote speaker, certified life coach, and the best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others. She is on a mission to bring the message of self-love and intensive self-care to make a difference in the lives of more than one million women nurturers.
Su is the founder and president of Beyond Horizon Coaching, a global coaching and training company, specializing in providing solutions for work-life balance, stress management, and Intensive Self-Care through personal coaching, executive coaching, teleseminars, keynote presentations, team-building training, and other wellness services. She is the creator of Rx for BalanceTM, The Coaching OasisTM, and Nurture and Grow RichTM programs.
To sign up for free stress management video e-course and learn more about Su’s coaching, keynote speaking, training services and products visit http://www.HueinaSu.com.
Hueina Su’s full bio and additional photos http://www.HueinaSu.com/media-room.
She is available for interviews and can provide a list of tips and other articles. Call 973-664-0446 (O) or 201-572-3641 (Cell) or email Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com.
# # #
Contact Information:
Hueina Su
Beyond Horizon Coaching
Phone: 973-664-0446 (O), 201-572-3641 (Cell)
Email: Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com
About the Author:Hueina Su is an internationally recognized expert in helping people find the missing PEACE and POWER in their stressful lives. She co-stars with Jack Canfield and Marci Shimoff in the ground-breaking personal development movie The Keeper of the Keys (Dec.11). Hueina is a Mindful Wellness Expert, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, Founder & Master Coach of Beyond Horizon Coaching. What sets her apart from other experts is the 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and wisdom behind her. She started her first career as a RN, and has more than 23 years of experience in nursing, coaching, counseling, speaking, training, nonprofit management, sales, and small business. She is on a mission to empower one million women to nurture their true self, reclaim their Peaceful Power, and create a life of their CHOICE. For more information about Hueina’s speaking, coaching and products, visit www.HueinaSu.com ©Hueina Su You may reprint this article in your blog or e-zine as long as the author by-line and website information remain intact. |
Author Hueina Su Launches New Bestseller Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul
Author Hueina Su’s newly released book, Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, achieved bestseller status on April 22, 2010.
DENVILLE, NJ — April 26, 2010 — The Nurturer’s Coach Hueina Su is on a mission to bring the message of self-love and intensive self-care to make a difference in the lives of more than one million women nurturers. Su’s book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul achieved #1 bestseller status in two Amazon.com categories and #4 in another category on April 22, 2010.
“I’m very pleased that my book reached #1 on the bestseller list at Amazon.com. The success of my book launch helps me further my mission of bringing intensive self-care to one million nurturers,” says Su, President and Founder of Beyond Horizon Coaching based in Denville, New Jersey.
“My lifelong journey as a caregiver inspires me to write Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul as an interactive guidebook,” Su says. “This book is written for all moms, caregivers, teachers, healthcare professionals, businesswomen and other nurturers who take care of people and feeling stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted at the end of the day, no time for themselves, feeling selfish or guilty taking care of themselves.”
Su emphasizes, “Intensive Self-Care is NOT being selfish and it’s NOT a luxury, but rather an essential practice for your survival and overall well-being.”
“This is a book that will touch the lives of all who read it, from mothers to adult children caring for an aging parent, to professional healthcare workers. This book is a must read for anyone who is stressed and overwhelmed in their caregiving roles,” Su adds.
By partnering with more than 90 top gurus, experts and mentors, Su’s book and message has reached more than 1.4 million nurturers worldwide. “I’m so grateful for the partners who believe in my vision and help me spread the message of intensive self-care,” Su says.
For more information about the book and special bonus gifts, visit http://www.intensiveselfcarebook.com. This book is also available at Amazon.com.
About Hueina Su and Beyond Horizon Coaching
Hueina Su, MS, BSN, CEC, The Nurturer’s CoachTM, is a renowned expert in helping people restore the missing peace and balance in their stressful lives. Su is a professional keynote speaker, certified life coach, and best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others. She is the creator of Rx for BalanceTM, The Coaching OasisTM, and Nurture and Grow RichTM programs.
Su is the founder and president of Beyond Horizon Coaching, a global coaching and training company, specializing in providing solutions for work-life balance, stress management, and Intensive Self-Care through personal coaching, executive coaching, teleseminars, keynote presentations, team-building training, and other wellness services.
To sign up for free stress management video e-course and learn more about Su’s coaching, keynote speaking, training services and products visit http://www.HueinaSu.com.
# # #
Note: Hueina Su’s full bio and additional photos http://www.HueinaSu.com/media-room.
She is available for interviews and can provide a list of tips and other articles. Call 973-664-0446 (O) or 201-572-3641 (Cell) or email Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com.
Contact Information:
Hueina Su
Beyond Horizon Coaching
Phone: 973-664-0446 (O), 201-572-3641 (Cell)
Email: Hueina@BeyondHorizonCoaching.com
Web: www.HueinaSu.com
About the Author:Hueina Su is an internationally recognized expert in helping people find the missing PEACE and POWER in their stressful lives. She co-stars with Jack Canfield and Marci Shimoff in the ground-breaking personal development movie The Keeper of the Keys (Dec.11). Hueina is a Mindful Wellness Expert, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, Founder & Master Coach of Beyond Horizon Coaching. What sets her apart from other experts is the 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and wisdom behind her. She started her first career as a RN, and has more than 23 years of experience in nursing, coaching, counseling, speaking, training, nonprofit management, sales, and small business. She is on a mission to empower one million women to nurture their true self, reclaim their Peaceful Power, and create a life of their CHOICE. For more information about Hueina’s speaking, coaching and products, visit www.HueinaSu.com ©Hueina Su You may reprint this article in your blog or e-zine as long as the author by-line and website information remain intact. |
Today – Give Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul to someone you love & receive BONUS gifts!!!
Do you feel stressed, overwhelmed, running on empty & no time for you? Then you need to do this TODAY!!
Today is the day!! I’m officially launching my book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others on Amazon.com on April 22. This is an interactive guidebook for moms, nurses, caregivers, teachers, and anyone who is taking care of others, and feeling stressed, overwhelmed, running on empty, with no time for themselves (more details about the book below).
I’m on a mission to bring my book and the message of Intensive Self-Care to one million women nurturers out there! Will you help me spread the word?
Please tell all your friends, colleagues, family, especially those who are moms, nurses, teachers, caregivers who are taking care of aging parents or special needs child, healers and anyone taking care of others. This book will help them reduce stress, create life balance, restore inner peace, and take better care of themselves (without feeling selfish or guilty).
When you buy this book TODAY April 22 on Amazon.com, you will receive dozens of BONUS gifts from 90+ leading gurus, experts & mentors. Check out all the details here:
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
Our world is fast-paced and loaded with a tremendous volume of competing priorities and responsibilities. The need to center ourselves, catch our breath and release the stress is probably more crucial than ever. How are we to accomplish this when we are faced with the overwhelming need to make a difference in others? Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul is a definitely gentle loving breeze with a clear and strong message effortlessly delivered. When you read the ideas in this book, told in a wonderful story-telling style, it’s easy to reinforce the truth that has motivated this book: caretakers need to take care of themselves.
If you have ever felt stressed, overwhelmed, no time for you, running on empty, or feeling selfish & guilty about taking time for yourself, then this book is a must read for YOU!! This book will make a PERFECT Mother’s Day gift too!!
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
A fourth generation medical professional, I was born a nurturer. Raised in a culture where self-sacrifice was not only expected but encouraged, I understood at a very young age that balance would be pivotal in realizing the depth of happiness I really desired for myself.
Through my 20+ years of experience in nursing, counseling, coaching, and being a mom of two, I experienced and observed the demands and stress of being responsible for someone else’s daily care, whether it’s caring for a normal family or caring for someone who is ill or disabled. I recognized that care-taking is as rewarding as it is exhausting, but far too often we sacrifice our own well-being and happiness because nobody ever showed us how to manage it all.
The consequences of neglecting your self-care could be detrimental, not only to your physical & emotional health, but also to your work, business bottom lines and your relationships. Chronic stress is linked to all major illnesses including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
It is time to take action and learn how to take good care of YOU, while you continue to take care of others! This book will show you how. It’s terrific, timely and pertinent to most of our lives — preventing and eliminating stress & burnout!
And, when you buy my book on Amazon.com on APRIL 22, you will receive dozens of bonus gifts from 90+ leading experts, such as Mark Victor Hansen (best-selling author of Chicken Soup for the Soul), Lisa Nichols (teacher in The Secret), Marci Shimoff (teacher in The Secret, and best-selling author of Happy for No Reason), Janet Attwood (The Passion Test), Joe Vitale (The Attractor Factor) and so many more!
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
With amazing insights into all aspects of what it truly means to be both caretaker and nurturer, I shared in my book personal stories, practical tools and tips that are universal in their application and great for professional healthcare workers, therapists, social workers, teachers, family caregivers, moms, and anyone who is caring for others. The need for this information is far more urgent than most could ever realize.
Join me as I explores in depth caretaking concerns such as:
* Recognizing Self-Care Deficiency Syndrome and what to do about it
* How to resolve the feeling of overwhelm
* Finding joy and serenity in the present moment
* How to restore peace and calm when life is spinning out of control
* Creating life balance to avoid caregiver burnout
* How to clear out emotional clutter for lasting inner peace
* Finding peace in the face of death and grieving
* Detached involvement for caregivers
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
This is more than a book! The self-coaching sessions following every section offer personalized action steps and build a solid foundation for a new understanding and level of caregiving. This is a book you’ll want to keep as a reference and go back to again and again.
While we all know it’s important to take care of ourselves, most of us don’t always practice what we believe to be true. We need help and we need it in a way that is easy for us to use. Just read one small but potent piece to know why you will remember the message in this book:
” Intensive Self-Care is NOT being selfish and it’s
NOT a luxury, but rather an essential practice
for your survival and overall well-being.”
I hope it resonates with your soul and brings you a sigh of relief. It is okay to re-prioritize and put yourself FIRST for a change.
This is a must read for anyone who is taking care of others and needs some tender loving care for themselves. Get this amazing book for yourself and anyone you care TODAY. It’s terrific, timely and pertinent to most of our lives — preventing and eliminating stress & burnout! And, remember, I will be there for you when the time comes!
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
P.S. Don’t forget to buy Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul on APRIL 22. You will receive dozens of bonus gifts from 90+ leading experts.
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com
P.P.S. If you have ever felt stressed, overwhelmed, running on empty, no time for you, or feeling selfish & guilty about taking time for yourself, then this book is a must read for YOU!! This book will make a PERFECT Mother’s Day gift!!
http://www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com

About the Author:Hueina Su is an internationally recognized expert in helping people find the missing PEACE and POWER in their stressful lives. She co-stars with Jack Canfield and Marci Shimoff in the ground-breaking personal development movie The Keeper of the Keys (Dec.11). Hueina is a Mindful Wellness Expert, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, Founder & Master Coach of Beyond Horizon Coaching. What sets her apart from other experts is the 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and wisdom behind her. She started her first career as a RN, and has more than 23 years of experience in nursing, coaching, counseling, speaking, training, nonprofit management, sales, and small business. She is on a mission to empower one million women to nurture their true self, reclaim their Peaceful Power, and create a life of their CHOICE. For more information about Hueina’s speaking, coaching and products, visit www.HueinaSu.com ©Hueina Su You may reprint this article in your blog or e-zine as long as the author by-line and website information remain intact. |
Fast Track to Calm: Tao of the Unhurried Way
(Adapted from the book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others by Hueina Su)
Does your life look like a race car running at cut-throat speed and, to your horror, the brakes are broken? Do you feel like you are perpetually in a hurry, even when you are not in a hurry to go anywhere? Do you feel like all the items on your to-do list are dancing around in your head, and you can’t seem to concentrate on any of them? Do you run around like a chicken without a head all day, and still feel like you will never “catch up”? Has it occurred to you that you have forgotten how to relax?
You are not alone.
Many of my coaching clients came to me, all frazzled and stressed, brimming with anxiety that they will never get it all done, or get it done the “right” way. They wanted to learn how to manage their stress, and create some balance in their lives, but they simply did not know how to relax. You’d be surprised how many people draw a complete blank, when I ask them what they do for fun, or what relaxes them. It’s so sad that they have become so disconnected from themselves. A client once told me that even when she was at the spa, she could not totally relax, because half way through her massage she was already thinking about what she had to get done after the spa.
Addicted to Speed
With so much to do, and so little time, how do you deal?
Many people told me they tried to become more efficient so they could squeeze in more tasks in a day. Some proudly told me that they thrive on stress under deadlines. Can you relate to this?
What you may not realize is that, you have been running on adrenaline. When we are under stress (either physical or emotional), it triggers the fight-or-flight response in our body, which is then flushed with adrenaline to help us deal with the “crisis” at hand. Adrenaline is like caffeine that pumps us up with extra energy and alertness. It’s referred to as adrenaline rush because it’s highly addictive. You feel so much more productive and on top of everything. However, just like how caffeine affects our body, once the adrenaline rush is over, you’d experience a “crash” afterward.
Some people try to stay in that “rush”, so they wouldn’t experience the “crash”. The problem is, when you are running on adrenaline, your body is filled with stress hormone cortisol. Research has repeatedly linked chronic stress and cortisol to increased risks of heart disease, hypertension, weight gain, sleep disorder, etc. In other words, unchecked chronic stress can wreck havoc on your health.
Haste Makes Waste
There is a Chinese saying that’s similar to “Haste makes waste”. The fastest way is not necessarily the best way to get you where you want to go. Sometimes, when you try to rush somewhere, you end up not arriving at all.
When people asked me how to reduce stress quickly, I’d tell them to take a deep breath and slow down. Sounds very counter-intuitive, but, the fastest way to restore inner peace is to slow down. Slow w-a-y down.
Here are some ideas to help you practice what I call Tao of the Unhurried Way.
Watch Your Breathing
Research shows that when you focus all of your attention on one thing, your heart rate slows down and blood pressure is lower too. The easiest way to achieve this is to observe your breathing. We tend to hold our breath or breathe shallowly when we are stressed. When you find yourself tensed or holding your breath, take a few deep breaths. Then breathe normally for a minute or two, while focusing your attention entirely on breathing in and out. Your mind would probably try to interrupt you with all kinds of ideas and thoughts. When you notice a thought, just observe it, without judging it, and let it go. Return to observe your breathing.
This is a basic relaxation technique and the beginner level of meditation. Sounds simple, but it’s not easy to do. We are so used to running and doing stuff all the time that most people have forgotten why we are called human “being”, not human “doing”. If you have difficulty focusing at the beginning, don’t worry. Start with 1-3 minutes, and work up to 30 minutes if you can.
Practice Mindfulness
Years ago, a friend introduced me to Jon Kabat-Zinn and Thich Nhat Hanh’s books on Mindfulness Meditation, and I fell in love with their work. Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation. According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is moment-to-moment, non-judgmental, awareness. It’s a tool to bridge the gap between doing and being, and bring us back to here-and-now.
Our mind is often on auto-pilot, and we are not fully “awake” at the present moment. You might be physically here, but your mind is completely somewhere else. Without mindfulness, we are not fully present in our own lives, and in our relationships with others.
To demonstrate mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn asked his stress-reduction program participants how they eat raisins. Most people eat them by the handful. I’m sure you do too. However, he asked the participants to eat one single raisin, and really experience the full flavor and texture of a raisin. I tried that, and it opened my eyes. Now when I need a reminder of mindfulness, I’d take a raisin, or a very small piece of dark chocolate, and eat it as slowly as I can.
You can practice mindfulness meditation anytime, anywhere, in everything you do. Whether you are eating, reading, washing dishes, walking the dog, or pumping irons at the gym, try focusing 100% of your attention on what you are doing. Then, everything you do would be a mindfulness meditation. Needless to say, if your goal is relaxation and inner peace, multi-tasking is not the way to go.
Stop Speed-Eating
Even if you are not interested in practicing mindfulness, you should really slow down when you eat. Eating on the run produces anxiety and stress, which interferes with digestion. Studies show that when people eat fast, they tend to over-eat. That’s because when you eat fast, your brain does not have enough time to register that you are already full, and that you should stop eating. As a result of stress (remember that cortisol contributes to weight gain) and over-eating, you’d end up gaining weight.
A recent WebMD article lists speed-eating as the No. 1 diet mistake (skipping meals is No. 2 on the list). Another study showed that when you sit down to eat a snack, you are less tempted to eat other snacks later on. It seems like when we are “eating on the go”, our brain often doesn’t register how full we are. Another reason to practice “mindful eating”, instead of “speed eating”.
So, try to sit down, and savor your food. If you don’t have time to sit down and relax at every meal, at least make a conscious effort to eat one meal in peace every day. Unplug the phone, TV, computer and your Blackberry. Be fully present and eat in peace.
Allow Enough Time
In our over-scheduled, always-rushing life style, we often under-estimate how much time each task takes, or over-estimate how much we can get done in the amount of time we have. As a result, you are always running late and stressed out. When you schedule your appointments, try to allow 1.5 times of your original estimated time. Also, allow enough travel time between appointments. That way, if you hit traffic, you won’t go crazy.
How about the transition between work and home? How often do you rush home and, without taking a break, jump right in to your “other job” at home? It’s important to allow yourself enough time and space to make that transition. Perhaps you can take a walk, visit a cafe or book store, or go to the gym, before heading home. I know someone who would drive around the block, or sit in the car on his own driveway for a few minutes, until he is ready to re-join the rest of the family. Believe me, you will feel much calmer when you walk in the door.
Clear the Way for Calm
In order to slow down and have enough time, you need to de-clutter your home and your schedule. An organized home gives you a sense of serenity and provides a safe haven for you to relax and recharge. On the other hand, to cut down tasks on your schedule, you need to say no and set good boundaries.
Take an honest look at your schedule and commitments. How many of those do you really enjoy? How many of those can be done by someone else? Do you take on more commitments because you want to, or because you think you should? Or, perhaps you take them on just because you don’t know how to say no? Protect your time like it’s the most valuable asset you have. Since we all have 24 hours a day, when you say yes to something, you are saying no to something else. So choose carefully. What would you rather be doing?
Take Time for You
Last but not least, take time for you. Most people don’t realize they are over-extending themselves and heading toward burnout. The truth is, you might not realize it, unless you can slow down enough to see your reality. Some clients came to that realization during our coaching sessions, after examining their schedules, values and priorities. Some told me that everything they did was all related to their responsibilities at work and at home, and they have not done anything just for themselves. They almost forgot what they used to do just for fun.
If you can relate to this, it’s time for some Intensive Self-Care! Make a conscious choice to put self-care as a top priority. After all, if you don’t nurture yourself, you won’t have any more to give.
Schedule “Me Time” on a daily, or at least weekly, basis. Do something good for yourself every day. It could be something small, like buying yourself some fresh flowers, or spending half an hour reading, or taking a bubble bath. Or, it could be something big, like a spa day or girls night out. Do whatever pleases you. You deserve it.
Take time for you, and take the time to do what you enjoy. Savor every moment. Be fully present. Then you’ll be on the fast track to true peace and calm.
NOTE: This article is adapted from the book Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others by Hueina Su. “Fast Track to Calm” is key #3 in the book.
Visit www.IntensiveSelfCareBook.com to learn how you can receive dozens of BONUS gifts when you purchase the book This is a perfect book for moms, caregivers, nurses, doctors, businesswomen and anyone taking care of others.
About the Author:Hueina Su is an internationally recognized expert in helping people find the missing PEACE and POWER in their stressful lives. She co-stars with Jack Canfield and Marci Shimoff in the ground-breaking personal development movie The Keeper of the Keys (Dec.11). Hueina is a Mindful Wellness Expert, international keynote speaker, best-selling author of Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul: 7 Keys to Nurture Yourself While Caring for Others, Founder & Master Coach of Beyond Horizon Coaching. What sets her apart from other experts is the 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and wisdom behind her. She started her first career as a RN, and has more than 23 years of experience in nursing, coaching, counseling, speaking, training, nonprofit management, sales, and small business. She is on a mission to empower one million women to nurture their true self, reclaim their Peaceful Power, and create a life of their CHOICE. For more information about Hueina’s speaking, coaching and products, visit www.HueinaSu.com ©Hueina Su You may reprint this article in your blog or e-zine as long as the author by-line and website information remain intact. |












