Dr. Amy Bader, ND
@AmyBaderND
Hey, ladies! Who doesn’t want to feel good in their skin? I know I do! This series of articles will be dedicated to helping women help themselves and feel great! Trust me. I have been there— I have struggled with shame and fought vulnerability. I have resisted stepping into my personal power out of fear. I have had weight and health problems. But, I am here to tell you… If you shift your mindset to see your individual challenges as opportunities to learn, evolve, and grow, you can shift your whole life— experience joy and fulfillment, and have a body that feels good to live in. Each month I will provide new information, as well as assignments designed to help you achieve a high level of physical health, emotional wellness and personal power. The assignments will take you through a process and build on themselves. Some months we will focus on our physical well-being, and some on our spiritual and emotional bodies. No matter what bothers you… a health concern, your weight, job or relationship challenges, we will work together to help you build a strong foundation, so you can embrace the BIGNESS of your spirit, and lead a fulfilling, whole-hearted life.
Let’s get started!
Assignment #1:
What we think, we become, plain and simple. This is a fundamental truth: we create our reality. One of the most important things we can do to start on our path to wellness is to think about how we think of ourselves.So, your first assignment is to think about who you want to be. I have adapted this exercise from Brendon Burchard’s Reprogram Your Mind For Positive Thinking. (He has a wonderful video series available on YouTube you can watch for extra credit.) I want you pick some words you feel describe who you want to be. Personally, I have chosen optimistic, compassionate, excited, wise, radiant, grateful, and courageous. I have set a reminder on my phone to go off three times a day and show me those words. Each time the reminder pops up on my phone, I think, “Oh yeah!! I’m THAT person! I love being those things!” Pick your words, set your reminders! Seeing this three times a day will not only put you in a mindset that is positive and productive, but also creates a belief that becomes your reality!
Assignment #2
Change. Is. Hard. I get it. It’s scary. When life pulls in a new direction, many of us scratch and claw; we retreat into cocoon-like comfort zones. I know it feels better in there… but only temporarily. Let’s not judge it— it’s an automatic reflex and a coping mechanism, BUT always remember: all the really good stuff happens OUTSIDE of your comfort zone.Time to embrace change. Here’s what we are going to do: stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eyes. Put your hand over your throat and repeat at least 10 times, “I am willing to release all resistance.” You may become emotional and that’s good! Keep repeating this phase until you no longer feel the emotion behind it. I have recently begun to use this as one of the first exercises I assign my patients who have long standing health concerns. It is powerful! Do this every day for a month. Why your hand on your throat? Your throat is the spiritual center from where you communicate your truth and create change. This incredible exercise is from Louis Hay’s wonderful book You Can Heal Your Life. It should be on everyone’s bookshelf.
Okie dokie! You have your assignments, should you choose to accept them! Focus on these simple, yet powerful changes this month. Next month we will add new assignments to build on them. Lastly, I’ll leave you with a powerful quote from Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
Think about it…
Take care of your (whole)self,
Dr. Bader
*****
Amy Bader ND is a doctor, teacher, speaker, writer and entrepreneur. She is a graduate of the National College of Natural Medicine, where she is now an adjunct clinical faculty member training naturopathic medical students. She has private practices in Northern California and Portland, Oregon, where she lives with her beautiful daughter. She has a passion for treating patients with chronic diseases using clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, biotherapeutic drainage, and homeopathy. She has a particular interest in working with patients who want to lose weight and feel comfortable in their bodies.
Dr. Bader has been interviewed as an expert in natural medicine and natural healthcare for radio, newspapers, magazines and television. She has been a contributing expert columnist for a large online health resource website. Dr. Bader was a founding co-director of NCNM’s Integrative Skin Care Clinic. She is a member of the Advisory Counsel for Kamedis, a bio-herbal skin care company, and is a trainer for Radiancy, maker of LHE phototherapy systems.
