A Heart-to-Heart About Your Heart: 4 Action Steps for a Better Life

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Wendie Pett is a highly sought-after speaker who offers talks on fitness, nutrition, life balance, motivation and all manner of topics related to wellness of mind, body and spirit. Today she comes to Diet-to-Go to get to the heart of the matter -- the issues affecting your heart. It's not all about extra fat and a lack of exercise.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

If home is where the heart is, why do so many people neglect their heart, both physically and spiritually?

Is your heart suffering due to a lack of exercise or to the foods you eat? Maybe your heart is bogged down with negative emotions (anger, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, fear or resentment).

In either case, the heart becomes cluttered with an emotional filth that leaves no room for physical cleanliness. Would you enjoy living in a home that is dirty, cluttered, dangerous and gloomy? I imagine most would answer that question with an emphatic, "No!"

Why, then, would anyone live with a heart condition that is equally harmful and depressing?

Your heart is the central operating unit for the entire body, pumping blood, oxygen and nutrients to every cell. It's the home base, if you will, from which the entire body receives its commands, including the mind and its ability to think.

Phrases such as, "Home is where the heart is," "Home sweet home," "A man after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14), even "homesick" are reminders of where we long to be... HOME!

If you are out of shape and depressed, however, do you stuff your home and your heart with things that never fill the hole left by what you are truly seeking? If we long to be home and our heart is the "home" from which we operate to our fullest potential (when we're healthy), we should honor that home - clean it, purify it, fuel it, and exercise it to offer maximum benefits.

The rewards are even far greater than what the heart offers physically. The heart is the home to a healthy mind, body and spirit.

The first step in clearing the filth that has entered your heart (emotionally or physically) is to change the way you think.

When you recognize and accept that you are worth the effort it takes to have a clean and healthy heart, you are ready to put the following necessary steps into action.

4 Action Steps for a Better Life

1. Emotional triggers

Address them! Whether your triggers concern past or present issues, decide to let go and release the negative thoughts, feelings and actions that go along with that emotion.

Ask yourself: Does my attitude serve me or those around me? You may be hanging onto anger and resentment even though the person against whom the emotions are directed has been set free (because she/he did not allow emotions to run her life).

Do you find yourself stuffing your emotions with food, alcohol, drugs, lust or shopping, to name a few. If so, consider what your future may look like five years from now if you continue down that path.

2. Action plan

Put a specific plan in place for every day. Journal your eating, exercise, feelings and actions. Such accountability will develop into a daily pattern or habit. Hiring a coach or checking in with a close friend also works wonders to keep you accountable.

3. Measure

Take time each week to check in and measure your results. There is no greater motivator than seeing the progression that leads to one's goals.

4. Reward

When positive results are clearly shown, a healthy reward is key to encouraging you to continue reaching new and perhaps even greater goals.

Once you get to the heart of the matter, you will appreciate that home indeed is where the heart is -a nd that taking care of your heart is critical for you and for those who love you most.

WENDIE PETT is a nationally renowned fitness expert and coach, mother, speaker, author and creator of the Visibly Fit™ exercise program. Her many Visibly Fit™ instructional DVDs teach wellness maximization through the balance of mind, body, and spirit as well how to use your body as your gym. To learn more about Wendie and her program visit www.wendiepett.com and www.wakeupwithwendiepett.com.

Overall Health & Nutrition

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